I Don't Know, Strap It to Your Back

"Fetch the mattress from my quarters and bring it up here," Arthur commanded.
Merlin doubted that that was even possible. "How am I supposed to carry a mattress on my own?"
"I don't know, strap it to your back." But what was he supposed to do when Arthur gave the order?

This is a fic about how Merlin actually did manage to carry the mattress all the way from Arthur's chambers to Gwen's house on his own, although at a great cost. (He was exhausted afterwards.) Although, maybe when he's so tired, Arthur will allow him to stay at Gwen's and share the mattress? (It was rather enormous for just one person, wasn't it?)

Set in the episode 2x02 The Once and Future Queen.